57 new faces in BN list for Selangor for GE14

SHAH ALAM: Barisan Nasional (BN) today unveiled its line-up of candidates to contest in all 22 Parliamentary and 56 state seats in Selangor for the 14th General Election.

The list included 64 new candidates, comprising 57 fresh candidates who will be making their debut in GE14 and seven returning candidates, whose names were dropped in GE13.

Selangor BN chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar said of the 57 candidates, 14 will be contesting for Parliament seats and 43 in state seats.

“The candidates were thoroughly vetted and meticulously selected to be fielded to contest in all 78 seats. We have a good mixture of candidates from various groups, representing all sectors of the community.

“Our youngest candidate, for instance, is 28-year-old Lee Yee Yuan from MCA and an architect by profession, who will be contesting in Sekinchan state seat.

“MCA’s Chew Hian Tat, 66, is the oldest candidate who has been fielded for Petaling Jaya state seat,” he said at a press conference here today after attending the presentation of credentials to the candidates.

Umno will be contesting in nine parliament and 35 state seats, MCA in eight parliament and 14 state seats, MIC in four parliament and three state seats, and Gerakan in one parliament and four state seats.

The line-up comprised of eight women and nine young candidates, as well as 13 professionals, 34 businessmen, six academicians, six civil servants, two former armed forces personnel, political leaders and existing members of parliament.

Wanita MIC chief Datuk Mohana Muniandy will contest the Kapar Parliament seat which has traditionally been contested by the MIC wing. The party however lost the seats in the 2008 and 2013 polls.

Noh said a total of 14 incumbents (five Parliament MPs and nine assemblymen) will be defending their respective seats in GE14.

The remaining two are Hulu Selangor MP Datuk P. Kamalanathan (who is also the Deputy Education Minister) and Kuala Selangor MP Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim (Umno Supreme Council member) who will also be retained for their respective seats.

Noh said two candidates were dropped from the list, Budiman Zohdi (Sungai Panjang) and Amiruddin Setro (Jeram), while Sungai Air Tawar state seat remained vacant following the death of Kamarol Zaki Abdul Malik.

“It was a difficult decision to drop Amiruddin, but it has to be done to make way for new faces. Amiruddin has served as Jeram assemblyman for three terms and the state BN highly respects him.”

Noh said candidates not selected to contest in GE14 should not be disappointed, but continue to help the BN machinery.

He admitted that while disappointment was unavoidable, there would be no elements of sabotage among party members.

“There were many formidable and eligible candidates, but we had to pick the cream of the crop to ensure BN’s success in GE14.

“The chosen candidates have proved themselves by showing their commitment in serving the public and resolvin

g their issues in the last five years.

“I hope all members and parties will put aside any differences and come as one team under the BN spirit and vote for the BN logo to regain the state and ensure our manifesto of a ‘Better Selangor’ is fulfilled.”